The agreement between the components of the agri-food chain starts from Parma to face the post-Covid economic recovery. The leaders of the food industry, large-scale distribution and agriculture met today at the Cibus Forum (which continues tomorrow) to start a dialogue with the Government, represented, in presence in Parma, by Luigi Di Maio, Minister of Foreign Affairs . ( https: // cibusforum.cibus.it/ ). The event was opened by greetings from Gian Domenico Auricchio, President of Fiere di Parma, Federico Pizzarotti, Mayor of Parma and Stefano Bonaccini, Governor of the Emilia Romagna Region .
Below is a summary of the first interventions of the morning.
" The food industry, after having proved to be fundamental in the period closely linked to the emergency, can still act as an economic driver and quickly return to pre-crisis levels - said Ivano Vacondio, President of Federalimentare - This strength, however, must not be mistaken for a state of well-being. 2020 is also the black year for food & beverage which, to recover quickly, absolutely needs the support of the Government. I am referring in particular to the non-repayable loans for the on-trade sector (which must be much more substantial than those allocated in August), essential for raising the restaurant sector. If there is this support, I am convinced that by the end of next year the food industry will once again be the driving force of the Italian economy ”.
Minister Di Maio , during his speech, confirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation , with all its foreign network, to support the agri-food sector: " We want to transform every Embassy in the world into a home for businesses, because Italy and our companies must grow and export our excellence everywhere. We have foreseen many interventions, starting with the relaunch of the exhibition sector which can now count on a digital platform - Fiera 365 - available to operators. We have also created an extraordinary program of physical and virtual incoming through which we will welcome buyers, influencers, journalists and other key players in our country for the relaunch of the Italy brand in the world, starting with the agri-food chain which represents one of the best known and most appreciated ".
The necessary collaboration between the components of the agri-food chain was also underlined by Giorgio Santambrogio, past president of Associazione Distribuzione Moderna and CEO of the VèGè Group : " Large-scale distribution wants to collaborate with industry and agriculture to face the challenges of post-Covid . For example, we are working together to eliminate all unfair practices such as illegal hiring in the fields and double-discount auctions. Regarding the latter, we supported the new law which has already been passed in the House and is now under discussion in the Senate. In comparison, it is also open in terms of prices and promotions ”.
Tomorrow at the Cibus Forum: Ettore Prandini, President Coldiretti (in streaming); Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Confagricoltura; Dino Scanavino, President of the CIA Italian Farmers .
Nielsen's report on consumption trends in the Covid era was also presented in the morning. After the boom in the lockdown, the sales of Largo Consumo have stabilized but continue to remain positive. Families, now accustomed to new shopping categories, still buy frozen foods, uht milk, flour, pasta, rice, hygiene products, etc. The price factor will increasingly be a factor and sales in discount stores and specialty stores will continue to grow. We will have a polarization of prices, with increasing demand on both the low and high prices, and decreasing in the mid-range. And e-commerce will continue to grow even if a significant part of the territory is not covered.
An analysis shared by Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma and specialist in the Food & Beverage sector : “ We are starting this Cibus Forum in a difficult scenario, but with a positive sentiment. First of all, we record the desire to meet in person by the operators and this, for the Fair sector but not only, is an encouraging indicator; therefore we see a structural change in consumption, at an international level, which could, in the medium term, favor the Made in Italy offer characterized by high quality, basic products, production standards that are unique in the world not only for safety, but also for flexibility. Finally, the unified vision of the supply chain, from Agriculture to Distribution passing through Industry, which confirms its centrality also in the eyes of the institutions ".
